Relic of St. Clare visits Cebu

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma underscored the importance of sacrifice and simple lifestyle Wednesday in a mass celebrated in honor of the pilgrim relic of St. Clare of Assisi.

The relic arrived Wednesday afternoon at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral from Rome. It will stay in Cebu for four days before it will be flown to Davao and Manila.

Philippine Ambassador to the Philippines Merceditas Tuason, and Carmeni Montanari and Fr. Jess Dajac of the Missionaries of the Faith brought the relic to the Philippines.

Palma, in his homily, urged the devotees to imitate the footsteps of St. Clare this Lenten season. The saint, at a young age, was known for her piety and love for the poor.

Palma said this year's Ash Wednesday is "not just a day, this is kairos - a moment of opportunity" with the presence of the relic and the canonization of the Visayan martyr Pedro Calungsod on October 21, 2012.

Tuason, who attended the mass Wednesday, expressed surprise over how Cebuano devotees welcomed the relic.

Tuason said it is a great opportunity for the country to become the first recipient of the relic since it is not allowed to leave Rome.

St. Clare was born in 1193 to the Offreduccio family in Assisi, Central Italy. In 1212, St. Clare joined St. Francis and so the Second Franciscan Order was born.

With many other women following her in the San Damiano monastery, St. Clare founded the sisterhood of poor ladies, which is now known as the Poor Clares.

She died in 1253 and was canonized by Pope Alexander IV two years later. In 1958, she was declared Patroness of Television. (Sunnex)